My view of the cow parade

The Golden Hour

My husband Rick went to the farm last weekend to fix the mower. The grass will be growing all too soon, friends! He took these photos at what my blogging friends would call the golden hour. Dianna at These Days of Mine and Theresa at TexWiseGirl have posted some gorgeous photos about this time of day. What I find incredible about my husband’s pictures is that he took these with his phone!

ricksullins

ricksullins

ricksullins

In light of (no pun intended) of the golden Oscars last weekend, that it’s March 1 and these golden hour keepers at the farm for our family book, I think it’s timely I share some gold. Mama, from Mama’s Empty Nest nominated me a while back for the Sunshine Award and I thought I would save this for spring. It’s March 1 and spring is coming.

from Mama's Empty Nest

In accepting The Sunshine Award, it requires that I answer these questions:

Favorite color: Green.

Favorite animal: Cats. T-Bob is a member of the family for 14 years.

Favorite number: 7

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Peach Tea

Prefer Facebook or Twitter? Facebook

My passion: My family and teaching.

Prefer getting or giving presents: Giving. I love finding just the right thing for someone.

Favorite pattern: Lace.

Favorite day of the week: Wednesday. Can you believe it? Now that I’m retired my week ends on Wednesday after my MW class. That gives me time to post on Thursday.

Favorite flower: Roses in various shades.

Now for the fun part. It’s my great pleasure to nominate 6 other recipients.

Emjay and Them I noticed that Dianna at These Days of Mine has just nominated MJ for this very same award. So, she’s definitely an obvious choice. Visit MJ to read her lessons on life. She is spirited. Beware of bringing negative energy, she has opinions about those things. From family, home, the kitchen, her red car, the workplace she simply writes what comes from her brain and the heart of her ranch farming roots.

The Good Greatsby First, I was amazed that this blogger posted several hundred words daily. Then I was amazed that they weren’t just a few hundred words but funny, hilarious, laugh out loud words that would send me on my day chuckling and sharing. Still, my favorite post from this blogger is “The Most Positive Child in the World” that he wrote for his son’s birthday!. This blogger is edgy and still a got-his-head-screwed-on-just-right dad. Gotta love him. And, I love that he spares a moment to visit my little site. I know he earns more hits in a month, -er less than a month, than I have earned in my blogging lifetime, but I would remiss if I didn’t send him an award for lighting up my day, every day with his humor. Now that he has a trophy room, I am much more comfortable in sending this to him.

Coming East When I see Susan’s post come across “Read Blogs” I click and wonder, what is on Susan’s mind today? She posts when she has the urge…when she is itching to say something. If it’s important to her, I find out it’s about something affecting all of us. Right now, the political arena has put a “bee in her bonnet” as Texans would say.

The Monster in Your Closet I am in awe that this young mother is indefatigable with the attention she gives her blog and her readers. She has built a community that one can sense is deep, always sensitive, always gracious. She can be zany but make no mistake she fleshes out her questions on issues right in front of us. It’s a privilege to read her mind work and leave with a heartfelt message. She may not have a trophy case, but after months of reading, I have to give her a shout out and thank you for offering continuity in our blogosphere.

pocketperspectives I get Kathy. She has been a teacher for 35+ years. She will soon be a retired teacher. Remember bulletin boards in primary and secondary school? There were probably fewer in secondary school. But, in our blogosphere she offers bulletin boards. There are always thoughtful nuggets, beautiful images multiplied when she posts. I would love to see what her physical classroom looks like.

Portraits of Wildflowers Shoreacres referred me to Steve Schwartzman’s site. And I’m so glad she did. He is a teacher too. He exposes the world of plant life for all to see and understand better. He does it with his amazing eye and his macro lens. My words cannot do his site justice, just visit him. He also, has another site where he makes connections between English and Spanish words. Always, a fascinating read from the mind of a linguist.

tristenhohn I have linked you not only to Tris’s site but to her post of March 1. As soon as I read her wonderful tribute to preschool teacher, grammy and her husband, I knew I wanted to share her golden rays of sunshine to my list of honorees. Tris is a newcomer in our blogging world, having started in December. I urge you to visit her, read her words that will warm your heart and welcome her to our community.

Now, have I offered up some golden moments of reading that may add up to a golden hour?

Your post was positively golden from the beautiful phone photos from your hubby (which were gorgeous, by the way) to your golden and sunny award acceptance to your golden choices to pass the award to next. I’m not familiar with a couple of your recommendations, so I’ll have some new writers to check out. Maybe in the golden hour this evening??

Thank you, mama. This was fun to put together. It was an opportunity to give a thank you nod for the good reads I don’t want to take for granted.
You know I had planned to do this over spring break, but with the academy awards last Sunday and Rick’s pictures readily available, and it is March 1…I went ahead, prepared and pushed publish. Not to mention your Wordless Wednesday pushed me into spring break early. 🙂

Something about the fuel pump had to be fixed. Anyway you can see he got started but hadn’t finished the job yet in picture 2 …note the stripes in the yard… He took a sunset break before finishing before dark. I was amazed they came from his phone when he e-mailed them…I thought they were from his Canon… I think he’s trying to convince me too, that the phone upgrade was worth it.

Sounds like it might be bedtime.
It is a quandary to read or not to read. I feel that I’m behind and must not miss some things. I’m making myself limit myself more and then I save other pieces to read later…just folding it into my day. I do like this past time, as I learn so much about people.

ahhhh….the golden hour….such beautiful photos..and you do bring so much sunshine to so many of our lives…thank you for that….and thank you also, Georgette, for passing along that sunshine honor with such kind and thoughtful words and ideas…. : ) and yes, bulletin boards….not as full/rich this year, but in years past they were rich, varied and full. (too many distractible kids this year…they get too mesmerized by anything on the front walls, so less is there right now…so onto the blogs the bulletin boards are going instead … but of course there are still the many and wonderful stuffed animals, window hangers, bearable posters, wacky canned foam art….well, I guess there still is a lot in the room…. ; )

Thank you for your description of your room. I have wondered what you put up in there. I loved creating bulletin boards even for high school. The kids noticed them, looked at them and learned from them. And when I changed one, they noticed that right away too. It took me three straight days to move out of my room when I retired. Goodness, there were years of precious memories and things I used routinely.

Rick will be pleased that you like them. Thank you. I will definitely pass it along. There have been several recognitions along the way that I would love to have shared with you, but I know you are a busy blogger and these things as sweet as they are, are a bit labor intensive. I made a mental note to definitely pass this one onto you in recognition and appreciation…and Dianna had the same thoughts…I decided to go ahead and pass it to you making it a “unanimous” choice. Please know I remember my blogging roots started with your kindness and encouragement.

I’m so glad you’re enjoying Steve’s blogs – both of them. I find them both enjoyable and stimulating, and it’s never predictable which will be which!

I do enjoy the “golden hour”. We’re coming to the time of year when the sun is in just the right place to give me some lovely sunsets, and with the time change next week, I’ll be able to be home from work to enjoy them.

Goodness, thank you for the heads up on Daylight Savings Time. As altar guild coordinator I panic to think I’ll miss a service, especially since it coincides with my spring break. Perish the thought. Yes, Steve’s photography renders me speechless with nothing more than a “like/love” and an occasional comment. Thank you for the wonderful recommendation. I’m so glad you are looking forward to the Golden Hour soon. Thank you for visiting.

Your husband has a great eye for capturing moments. A warm, beautiful golden hour indeed. Wonderful landscape and Texan, bright skies….
Congratulations, you’ve been a sunshine and inspiration to us all. Take care my friend…
p.s. I get to go home next week to the islands…can’t wait for the tropical sun and beaches…and the family of course!

As we say in TX…bless your heart…I’m so glad you have some Golden Hour photos, then. Sunshine is good. And, I’m so relieved you have a trophy room to put this “Sunshine Award.” Congratulations on your Huffington Post recognition.